Build a Better Bash with Atuin

##Needs to be updated, so the Autocomplete works in Fish

Step-by-Step Plan for Setting and Up Bash Completion and Atuin in New VMs

This guide will ensure that every new Ubuntu Server VM you set up has bash completion for tab completion and Atuin for enhanced shell history.

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Step 1: Update the System

Before installing anything, update and upgrade all pickipackagesess.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

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Step 2: Install Required Tools

Since Ubuntu Server doesn’t include some essential tools by default, install the following:

bash
enter
sudo apt install -y curl wget git unzip apt-transport-https ca-certificates lsb-release

These tools are required for downloading and installing software, including Atuin.

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Step 3: Install Bash Completion

Bash completion allows for easier command entry via tab completion.

Check if bash-completion is installed:
bash
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dpkg -l | grep bash-completion

1. • If installed, move to Step 4.

If not installed, install it:
bash
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sudo apt install -y bash-completion

Ensure bash-completion is enabled by verifying that this block exists in ~/.bashrc:
bash
enter
if ! shopt -oq posix; then
if [ -f /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion ]; then
. /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion
elif [ -f /etc/bash_completion ]; then
. /etc/bash_completion
fi
fi

If missing, add it to ~/.bashrc:
bash
enter
echo 'if ! shopt -oq posix; then
if [ -f /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion ]; then
. /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion
elif [ -f /etc/bash_completion ]; then
. /etc/bash_completion
fi
fi' >> ~/.bashrc

Apply the changes:
bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

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Step 4: Install Atuin

Atuin enhances shell history with powerful search and synchronization.

Download and install Atuin using the official script:
bash
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curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://setup.atuin.sh | sh

Ensure Atuin is added to your shell’s PATH (so it works in all sessions):
bash
enter
source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env

Restart your shell to finalize the setup:
bash
enter
exec "$SHELL"

Verify the installation:
bash
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atuin --version

1. If you see a version number, Atuin is correctly installed.

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Step 5: Enable Atuin in Every SSH Session

To make sure Atuin is automatically loaded in every session:

bash
enter
echo 'source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env' >> ~/.bashrc

Apply the changes:

bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

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Step 6: Test Everything

Test Bash Completion

Start typing a command, e.g.:
bash
enter
sudo apt <<< add space also for more options

1. Press Tab twice. If autocompletion works, you should see options like install, update, etc.

Test Atuin

Run:
bash
enter
atuin search apt

1. This should return previous commands containing “apt”.
2. Try using Atuin autocomplete:
   • Start typing a previous command and press Ctrl + R to see enhanced history suggestions.

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Step 7: Repeat for Every New VM

Now, whenever you create a new VM, just follow this exact guide to set up bash completion and Atuin consistently across all machines.

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Summary of Commands

For reference, here’s the full list of commands to run in sequence:

bash
enter
# Step 1: Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Step 2: Install required tools
sudo apt install -y curl wget git unzip apt-transport-https ca-certificates lsb-release

# Step 3: Install bash-completion (if needed)
sudo apt install -y bash-completion
echo 'if ! shopt -oq posix; then
if [ -f /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion ]; then
. /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion
elif [ -f /etc/bash_completion ]; then
. /etc/bash_completion
fi
fi' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Step 4: Install Atuin
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://setup.atuin.sh | sh
source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env
exec "$SHELL"

# Step 5: Make Atuin work in all future SSH sessions
echo 'source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Step 6: Verify everything
atuin --version
atuin search apt # Test history search

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This plan is now concise, correct, and repeatable for every new VM you set up. 🚀 Let me know if you need any refinements!

This setup primarily applies to Bash (the default shell for Ubuntu Server) and Zsh. However, Atuin also supports Fish, but requires a different configuration step.

Shell Compatibility:

Shell	Bash Completion	Atuin Support	Configuration Needed?
Bash (Default)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	No extra config needed (already covered in the guide)
Zsh	❌ No (Zsh has its own completion system)	✅ Yes	Needs manual Atuin configuration
Fish	❌ No	✅ Yes	Uses a different config file (env.fish)

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If Using Zsh

For Zsh users, Atuin still works, but Bash completion isn’t needed. You must add Atuin’s environment config manually:

Install Zsh (if not already installed)
bash
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sudo apt install -y zsh

Add Atuin to your Zsh configuration
bash
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echo 'source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env' >> ~/.zshrc

Apply the changes
bash
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source ~/.zshrc

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If Using Fish

Fish doesn’t use .bashrc or .zshrc, so Atuin needs a different approach:

Add Atuin’s Fish configuration
bash
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source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env.fish

Make it persistent
bash
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echo 'source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env.fish' >> ~/.config/fish/config.fish

Restart Fish
bash
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exec fish

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TL;DR

• Bash → Works as is (guide is fine).
• Zsh → Needs source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env in ~/.zshrc.
• Fish → Needs source $HOME/.atuin/bin/env.fish in ~/.config/fish/config.fish.

Would you like help setting up Zsh or Fish instead of Bash? 🚀

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE

You said:
I have installed bash-completion and atuin on my proxmox, a Debian-based server. Can I add some basic upgrades to the base bash prompt that will be useful? I don’t want to install Fish on all my servers since Bash is supported out of the box in all of them.

ChatGPT said:

Great call sticking with Bash—it keeps things consistent across all your servers without needing extra dependencies like Fish. Here are some practical Bash prompt upgrades that enhance usability, improve readability, and make working in the terminal more efficient.

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1️⃣ Add Git Status to Your Prompt (If You Use Git)

If you work with Git repositories, showing the branch and status in your prompt is helpful. Add this to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
parse_git_branch() {
git branch 2>/dev/null | grep '*' | sed 's/* //'
}

export PS1='\[\e[1;32m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\]:\[\e[1;34m\]\w\[\e[1;33m\] $(parse_git_branch)\[\e[0m\]\$ '

What This Does:

✅ Shows username and hostname in green
✅ Shows the working directory in blue
✅ Displays the current Git branch in yellow (if inside a Git repo)

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2️⃣ Show Exit Code of Last Command (Only if it Fails)

Sometimes, you run a command, and it fails—this makes it obvious by displaying the exit code in red.

Add this function to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
show_exit_code() {
EXIT_CODE=$?
if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ]; then
echo -e "\e[1;31mExit Code: $EXIT_CODE\e[0m"
fi
}
export PROMPT_COMMAND="show_exit_code; $PROMPT_COMMAND"

What This Does:

✅ If the last command fails, it will display:
Exit Code: 1 (or whatever the exit code is)
✅ If the last command succeeds, nothing changes

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3️⃣ Add Timestamps to Your History

Bash normally saves commands without timestamps. Enable timestamps so you can see when each command was run.

Add this to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
export HISTTIMEFORMAT="%F %T "

What This Does:

✅ history now shows timestamps like:

yaml
enter
1 2024-02-14 12:30:45 sudo apt update
2 2024-02-14 12:31:12 ls -la

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4️⃣ Make Your Prompt Show the Last Command Execution Time

Ever run a command and wonder how long it took? This adds execution time info to your prompt.

Add this to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
export PROMPT_COMMAND='LAST_CMD_TIME=$SECONDS; PREV_LAST_CMD_TIME=$LAST_CMD_TIME; $PROMPT_COMMAND'
export PS1='\[\e[1;32m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\]:\[\e[1;34m\]\w\[\e[0m\] (\[\e[1;35m\]${PREV_LAST_CMD_TIME}s\[\e[0m\])\$ '

What This Does:

✅ Shows execution time of the last command in purple
✅ If the last command took 5 seconds, prompt will look like:

ruby
enter
user@server:~/folder (5s)$

✅ If the command was instant, the (0s) disappears

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5️⃣ Enable Persistent History Across Sessions

By default, Bash only saves history at the end of a session, meaning if multiple terminals are open, they don’t share history. Fix this:

Add this to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
shopt -s histappend
PROMPT_COMMAND="history -a; history -c; history -r; $PROMPT_COMMAND"

What This Does:

✅ Instantly saves each command you run to history
✅ History is shared across multiple terminals (so all sessions see the latest commands)
✅ Prevents history loss when multiple terminal windows are open

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6️⃣ Enable Better Navigation (Ctrl+Arrow for Word Jumps)

By default, Bash doesn’t let you jump word by word using Ctrl+← and Ctrl+→ like in most modern shells.

Add this to ~/.inputrc (create the file if it doesn’t exist):

bash
enter
"\e[1;5D": backward-word
"\e[1;5C": forward-word

What This Does:

✅ Ctrl+← jumps back one word
✅ Ctrl+→ jumps forward one word
✅ Makes navigation faster when editing long commands

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7️⃣ Shorten Your Prompt on Long Paths

By default, if you’re deep inside a directory, your prompt gets very long. Fix this by shortening the path.

Add this function to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
export PS1='\u@\h:\w$( [ ${#PWD} -gt 40 ] && echo "…${PWD: -20}")\$ '

What This Does:

✅ Shortens the displayed path if it’s longer than 40 characters
✅ Example:

ruby
enter
user@server:/home/user/projects/super-long-directory-name$ # Normal
user@server:…per-long-directory-name$ # Shortened

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8️⃣ Improve “cd” Behavior (Auto Push to Stack)

Make cd - work like a stack so you can jump back to previous directories easily.

Add this to ~/.bashrc:

bash
enter
cd() {
builtin cd "$@" || return
pwd > ~/.lastdir
}
alias -- -='cd "$(cat ~/.lastdir)"'

What This Does:

✅ Every time you cd into a directory, it remembers the previous one
✅ Typing - jumps back to the last directory
✅ Example:

bash
enter
cd /var/log
cd /etc
-
# Now you're back in /var/log!

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Final Steps: Apply the Changes

After making changes to ~/.bashrc, apply them with:

bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

If you edited ~/.inputrc, apply changes with:

bash
enter
bind -f ~/.inputrc

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📌 TL;DR - What These Enhancements Do

✔ Adds Git branch status to your prompt
✔ Shows exit codes for failed commands
✔ Saves timestamps in history
✔ Displays execution time for commands
✔ Keeps Bash history persistent across sessions
✔ Enables Ctrl+← / Ctrl+→ word jumps
✔ Shortens long paths in the prompt
✔ Improves cd - navigation

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These upgrades keep Bash lightweight but powerful, giving you some of Fish/Zsh’s best features without adding new dependencies.

Would you like a specific feature customized further? 🚀

You said:

this only keeps them current for the current session though right?

ChatGPT said:

You’re correct—if you add these changes to ~/.bashrc and just run source ~/.bashrc, they’ll only apply to the current session. However, once they are saved in ~/.bashrc, they persist across reboots and new SSH sessions automatically.

To ensure all changes always apply in every new terminal session, just do this once:

1. Make sure everything is in ~/.bashrc
   If you’ve added the changes to ~/.bashrc, they will persist across all future SSH sessions and logins. You don’t need to manually source ~/.bashrc every time—you just need to restart your shell or open a new terminal.

For Immediate Effect in Current Session
After editing ~/.bashrc, run:
bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

1. This ensures the changes take effect immediately without needing to restart your shell.
2. For Changes in All New Terminals or SSH Sessions
   The next time you open a new terminal or SSH into the server, these settings will already be applied. You do not need to run anything again.

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Exceptions Where It Won’t Persist

1. If you edit only ~/.bash_profile instead of ~/.bashrc
   • ~/.bash_profile runs only for login shells (like when logging in via SSH), but not for interactive shells (like opening a new terminal from an already logged-in session).
   • Solution: Always put changes in ~/.bashrc for consistency.
2. If you use su - instead of su
   • su - loads a clean environment without user-specific configs.

Solution: If switching users, explicitly source the file:
bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

• 1. If your shell is not Bash
• If you’re using Zsh or Fish, ~/.bashrc won’t be loaded.
• Solution: Modify ~/.zshrc or ~/.config/fish/config.fish instead.

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To Apply Changes System-Wide (All Users)

If you want these prompt improvements for all users on the system, instead of just your account:

Edit the global Bash configuration:
bash
enter
sudo nano /etc/bash.bashrc

2. Add the same prompt modifications inside that file.
3. Save and exit (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).

Apply changes immediately:
bash
enter
source /etc/bash.bashrc

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TL;DR

• If added to ~/.bashrc, changes persist for your user across reboots and SSH sessions.
• If added to /etc/bash.bashrc, changes persist system-wide for all users.
• After editing, source ~/.bashrc makes changes apply immediately without restarting.

Would you like help setting this up across multiple servers at once? 🚀

You said:

how do I add the first one for example to ~/.bashrc and make it persistent?

ChatGPT said:

Great question! Let’s go step by step to add the Git branch status to your Bash prompt and make sure it persists across all future sessions.

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Step 1: Open ~/.bashrc for Editing

Run the following command to open your Bash configuration file in nano:

bash
enter
nano ~/.bashrc

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Step 2: Add the Git Branch Function to Your Prompt

Scroll to the bottom of the file (using the arrow keys) and add this code:

bash
enter
# Function to show the current Git branch
parse_git_branch() {
git branch 2>/dev/null | grep '*' | sed 's/* //'
}

# Custom Bash Prompt with Git Branch
export PS1='\[\e[1;32m\]\u@\h\[\e[0m\]:\[\e[1;34m\]\w\[\e[1;33m\] $(parse_git_branch)\[\e[0m\]\$ '

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Step 3: Save the File and Exit

1. Press CTRL + X to exit nano.
2. Press Y to confirm saving changes.
3. Press Enter to save and exit.

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Step 4: Apply the Changes Immediately

Run this command to reload the ~/.bashrc file without logging out:

bash
enter
source ~/.bashrc

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Step 5: Verify That It Works

Navigate to a directory that contains a Git repository:
bash
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cd /path/to/git-repo

Check if the Git branch name appears in your prompt. If you’re inside a Git repo, it should now display:
ruby
enter
user@server:/path/to/repo main$

1. Where main (or master) is the branch name.

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Step 6: Make Sure It Works in New SSH Sessions

• Close your terminal and open a new one.
• SSH back into your server and check if the Git branch appears.
• If it does, your custom Bash prompt persists across all sessions!

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Bonus: Make It System-Wide (All Users)

If you want all users on your server to have this Git-enabled prompt, edit the global Bash config:

bash
enter
sudo nano /etc/bash.bashrc

Then, add the same function and PS1 line to the bottom of the file. Save and exit, then apply:

bash
** **
source /etc/bash.bashrc

Now, every user on the system will have this prompt!

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You’re Done! 🎉

This Git-enhanced Bash prompt will now persist across reboots and all SSH sessions.

Would you like to tweak it further? Maybe add colors or execution time? 🚀